wildroseB+Barriers

=Barriers Discussion=


 * Please list the results of your facilitated discussion on barriers and restraints to managing change and shift in schools.**
 * What is preventing them from being successful at implementing change?**

Teachers usually say it generally takes more time and if we need to preaprea for PSSA and driven by the standards then there is a major conflict with PBL.

Students would have to do more work; they now have to be an active learner. Teachers would have to change the way they are teaching, more upfront work and they are no longer the main presenter.

Time is a barrier, the teachers need a lot of extra time for PBL. Administration doesn’t give us time to prepare for the prep time during the day. Reallocation of time.

We are looked as progressive. Barrier is financial. Morale is low. They have one hour every week but it is for Keystone Exams.

Huge time restraint. In-service is for everything but technology. Only in the district 2 times a week to work with them. We are a very poor district with very limited resources.

Teachers feel so overwhelmed already. They are being asked to teach 6-7 periods out of the date and up to 6-7 preps a day. Where is the equity with the various teaching assignments? Low morale. They do not want to stretch because you are asking me to give more blood sweat and tears.

Teachers need modeling of the ideas. Need collaborative time. Need a focus from the administration. Next year we can try to put into the professional time. The coach along with the 720 team/teacher leaders would be the model.

We allow full day training to bring substitutes in but the barrier is we now have too many initiatives. Many teachers are out of the classroom up to 3 days at a time. Coordination and Communication from administration down is a barrier to make sure the same teachers are not always pulled out.

Time for the coach is a barrier because I am now the online coordinator along. No time for CFF initiatives because now it is focused on Learning Focus. The district needs a common vision or plan. We have the technology, great teachers and students. Our barrier is moving past perceptions. People believe we do not have enough time even though we have enough time. Trying to communicate and focus our attention into one or two places that we do not have time to talk to one another. Perceptions more than reality.

Barrier is frequent changing of administration. Constantly have to educate and don’t really see the vision. They think it is just about the equipment. It is time to cut the umbilical cord. They need to hear it now from someone else.

Teachers are teaching 6- 7 preps a day. There is no common prep time to work collaboratively. PBL takes people out of their comfort zone. Time to replicate yourself.

High school would be class and planning time. They are constantly dealing with stress of test scores and relinquishing the control in the classroom. The time barrier is a block to the creativity.

Barrier is transition with all administrators. Only a few are concerned with technology but test scores are the highest priority. We also have the common prep time issue. The district is having problems with equipment and network issues. They are now overloading the classrooms….more students than laptops. Many web 2.0 tools and sites are blocked.

I can echo everything that has been said. Teachers perceive that administrators do not approve of PBL. They expect to see quiet classrooms over a busy classroom. The administration actually does appreciate the PBL. Teachers have created the barrier and administration is not verbalizing what they would like to see. No longer allowing field trips. This sends the message that PBL and hands-on experience is no longer appreciated. The students are doing their own thing and creating their own time for collaboration with others.

We spent all of our PD time on Stephen Covey. The prioritizing of the administrations PD time. I am the constant when the administration keeps changing. They are looking for me as a coach to pick up some of the admin. Duties. We now have high test scores. It isn’t broke so why are you trying to tell me to change. Parents and administrators, teaches are satisfied and why do we need to explore anything else. The curriculum is handed to you and everyone must be on the same spot so it is difficult to change that. It is on a 5-year cycle and it is across the board.

I am new and just get to start this Friday. The tone from the administration from IT is very positive. The barrier I see is me as a coach. I want to be received well by the teachers to see this happen. I want to be seen as positive.

Teachers are not seeing how the pieces all come together. They see the initiatives as separate pieces and not see it at as all good teaching.